Crickhowell in Wales wins UK high street of the year

Crickhowell High Street was announced as the overall winner of the Great British High Street Awards 2018.

The Welsh high street was praised for an ambitious initiative aimed at driving footfall whilst maintaining that local people had their say on what was best for their high street.

The community-led Totally Locally Campaign brought over 100 local shops and businesses together to promote one another and run initiatives to both boost their businesses and provide the local community with vital services.

The campaign also inspired 267 people passionate about the future of their high street to collectively purchase and renovate a former High Street pub – the Corn Exchange – into three new shops with three residential properties above.

Crickhowell High Street also boasts strong green credentials, being home to the first Zero Waste shop in Wales, whilst establishing Plastic Free Crickhowell – an initiative to reduce the use of plastic.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Dean Christy of Crickhowell Corn Exchange, commented: ‘None of this would have been possible without the ongoing commitment, hard work, dedication and drive of the whole community of Crickhowell and the surrounding area – it’s the people that make our high streets such special places and this Award is for you all,’

The prize includes £5,000 for a community street party and £10,000 grant for a local community project.

High Streets Minister Jake Berry added: ‘Congratulations to Crickhowell on being crowned the home of the UK’s best high street in this year’s Great British High Street Awards.

‘The Awards celebrate the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify our high streets and the quality of entries this year has been outstanding.

‘It’s a sure sign that, across the whole UK, there’s a determination from local communities to keep their high street alive and kicking and we hope this year’s Awards provides the inspiration for others to follow suit.’

NewStart recently reported on Blackburn, who won the prize in 2016.

Since winning the award, the town has gone from strength to strength, with a string of new businesses opening and 250,000 extra visitors coming into the town centre.